Meat hawkers, who have for years plied their trade in East London’s Buffalo Street, are crying foul after police this week confiscated their meat with no explanation.The hawkers, who sell their products from make-shift tables in side-streets, said four vans pulled up at around 9am on Monday, with police confiscating thousands of rands worth of meat.
Hawker Noluvo Ndalwa said the meat was packed into plastic bags, with no explanation offered when they asked where their meat supplies were being taken. Ndalwa said five hawkers were targeted by the officials.
“We decided to go to Fleet Street police station to ask why our meat was taken. When we got there, we were told the station commander had ordered that our meat be taken away but still we got no explanation as to why,” she said.
“We have been selling in this street for years. We demand an explanation or a refund because this meat is expensive,” she said.
Police spokesman Lieutenant-Colonel Mtati Tana confirmed the raid, saying the hawkers were violating Buffalo City Metro environmental health bylaws. He did not confirm the value of the meat confiscated.
“Meat cannot be sold on the side of the road under such conditions. As such, police have a right to confiscate the meat.
“Meat has to be sold in an indoor facility or under a stand with a roof for hygiene reasons.”
BCM spokesman Thandy Matebese said hawkers had to apply for permits at the trade licence department, where they had to state what they were intending to sell.
When selling food, a stall is compulsory, as well as a health certificate from the environmental health services stating that the food is healthy to sell to the public.
Matebese said demarcation forms were filled in, which clearly stipulated the rules and regulations hawkers needed to follow.
Another hawker, Noprivate Velaphi, said: “We don’t have money to open shops but we need to sell so we end up doing it on the side of the road. This is not easy. We are here day in and day out, no matter the weather,” she said.
Nomaxhosa Mangotsheni, who also sells meat, said most of the women were breadwinners. — zisandan@dispatch.co.za
City meat hawkers cry foul after raid
The hawkers, who sell their products from make-shift tables in side-streets, said four vans pulled up at around 9am on Monday, with police confiscating thousands of rands worth of meat.
Hawker Noluvo Ndalwa said the meat was packed into plastic bags, with no explanation offered when they asked where their meat supplies were being taken. Ndalwa said five hawkers were targeted by the officials.
“We decided to go to Fleet Street police station to ask why our meat was taken. When we got there, we were told the station commander had ordered that our meat be taken away but still we got no explanation as to why,” she said.
“We have been selling in this street for years. We demand an explanation or a refund because this meat is expensive,” she said.
Police spokesman Lieutenant-Colonel Mtati Tana confirmed the raid, saying the hawkers were violating Buffalo City Metro environmental health bylaws. He did not confirm the value of the meat confiscated.
“Meat cannot be sold on the side of the road under such conditions. As such, police have a right to confiscate the meat.
“Meat has to be sold in an indoor facility or under a stand with a roof for hygiene reasons.”
BCM spokesman Thandy Matebese said hawkers had to apply for permits at the trade licence department, where they had to state what they were intending to sell.
When selling food, a stall is compulsory, as well as a health certificate from the environmental health services stating that the food is healthy to sell to the public.
Matebese said demarcation forms were filled in, which clearly stipulated the rules and regulations hawkers needed to follow.
Another hawker, Noprivate Velaphi, said: “We don’t have money to open shops but we need to sell so we end up doing it on the side of the road. This is not easy. We are here day in and day out, no matter the weather,” she said.
Nomaxhosa Mangotsheni, who also sells meat, said most of the women were breadwinners. — zisandan@dispatch.co.za
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